Gravity manifold aligning device



Feb. 4, 1930.

J. O. SHERMAN ET AL.

GRAVITY MANIFOLD ALIGNING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 WMM i A TTO/(NE VS 4, 1930- J. Q. SHERMAN ET AL 1,745,648

GRAVITY MANIFOLD ALIGNING DEVICE Filed May 3, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR W W W- W ATTORNEYS 1930- .1. Q. SHERMAN ET AL 1,745,648

GRAVITY MANIFOLD ALIGNING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 /Z M ll L1H O o o INVENTOR A TTORNEYS Feb. 4, 1930. J. Q. SHERMAN ET AL' 1,745,648

GRAVITY MANIFOLD ALIGNING DEVICE Filed May 5, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 A TTORNE VS 1930- J. Q. SHERMAN ET AL 1,745,648

GRAVITY MANIFOLD ALIGNING DEVICE Filed M373, 1927 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 V [NVE T0 v 36%} M m A TTORNEY S Patented Feb. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN Q. SHERMAN AND ALBERT W. METZNER, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOBS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE STANDARD REGISTER COMPANY GRAVITY MANIFOLD ALIGNING DEVICE Application filed May 3, 1927. Serial No. 188,549.

Our invention relates to devices for use p in providing a supply of printed form paper to manifolding machines, particularly of the flat bed type. In such machines, a bed is provided as a support for a platen, and a typewriter which traverses the bed, or else the webs of paper are written upon by hand, there being carbon paper interleaved between the printed form webs in such a way as to transfer to the under webs the same impressions made upon the uppermost one.

It is the primary object of our invention to provide a simply constructed mechanism operable on the principle of holding the edges of a series of forms upon some type of post or pin, or a plurality of the same, while per mitting the tension on the webs of paper to draw them backwardly into alignment, due to the pulling of all'holes that are engaging over pins, back into a snug contact therewith.

\Ve also provide a lateral aligning means in connection with the supply of paper, and

a positive tension means by means of gravlty rollers, which move up when the webs of paper are pulled, and which slide or roll back upon the webs thus tensioning them.

We provide a simple frame in which there are carriers for the several rolls, which carriers can be shifted to an erect position, thus throwing all rolls out of any tensioning position, for threading the machine with paper at the start of an operation. We also'provide a set of aligning pins upon which the paper is located, at the end of the platen or bed to which the forms are drawn fiom the tensioning structure.

In theory of operation, we provide for slanting supports upon which the tensioning rolls travel, and the. paper passes up over the edges of the supports, thence around the rollers and to the'bed of the machine. When the paper is pulled forward toward the aligning pins, with the consequent raising of the gravity rollers, and the paper is dropped over the pins and released, the rollers still hold the paper beneath them, and by rolling down by gravity along the supports pull back on the several Webs and arrange them with a uniform back pressure against the pins.

We accomplish our ob ects and other ad- Figure 2is a perspective of one form of paper sn 1 Figure is a like view of another form of paper supply.

Figure 4 is a perspective of one of the tensioning devices. j

lilzigure 5 is a perspective of the supporting me f Figure 6 is a detail side elevation showing the gravity rollers down.

Fi ure 7 is a like view showing them in positlon as when the machine is being threaded up with paper.

Figure-8 is a perspective of one of the mounting elements for-the gravity rollers.

Figure 9 is a similar View showing the roller in place in the mounting.

. Figure 10 is a like view showing the mounting in place on its rock shaft.

Figure 11 is a perspective of the opposite end of the mounting from Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a perspective of the cutter bar and aligning pin structure.

Figure 13 is a perspective of one of the bracket plates which guide the latch bar.

. parts.

Figure 22 shows in plan view the gravity aligning device in an autographic register;

. Figure 23 shows a longitudinal section of the parts shown in Figure 22.

We have shown a manifolding machine having a pedestal 1, and a platen 2. Over the platen is a typewriting machine 3, which traverses the platen as' it is operated. We

. show carbon paper supply rolls at 4, and the usual treadle mechanism at 5, for operating the tear-off clamp usually provided in such machines.

On the cross plate at the'front of the platen, such as is normally used in such machines, and against which the paper is clamped, we attach a plate or strip 6, which has mounted on'its top surface a plurality (in this instance two) of paper engaging pins 7. These pins may be formed as hooks or studs, over which the holes 8 in printed form strip paper 9, are set by the operator, after each manual feeding operation. This strip 6 may be located at any desired point of the platen, however. y

In the arrangement of the tear-off bar (Figures 12, and 15-18) I provide for a spring impelled rock shaft which is normally operated by the treadle, in multigraph machines, and projecting from the rock shaft are the arms 9. The tear-01f bar or cutter bar as at 9, is mounted on the arms, and is brought by the mechanism, down against the paper to clamp it in place and permitting tearing off of forms to be issued. llhe bar may be arched throughout its length, as at 9, or it may be made narrow as at 9, so as to come down over the paper beyond the pins. The strip 6 is at a slant so that it will combine with the cutter bar to hold the paper firmly in place while being writtenupon.

Machines of the type described normally have a frame projecting rearwardly from the platen, as indicated in the drawings at 10.,

in which the idlers over which the paper webs are to be drawn are located.

our device we provide a rack for retaming the gravity roll structure, which can be arranged to be removably set in place in the usual frame portion 10.

This rack is formed of frame-pieces 11, across which are set slanting plates 12, over the tops of which the paper webs are drawn. There are a series ofholes 13, in the side plates of this rack for receiving the ends of the gravity roller supporting bars 14. These bars are illustrated as being square except at the ends, where they are projected in the form of pins which seat in the holes, so that the bars can rock.

Mounted so as to slide along the outer face form of a strip 15, held in place by means of clips 16, so as to slide. The bar has a series of horizontally projecting tonguesv17 at its upper edge which project over and beyond the top edge of the side plate against which the latching bar is mounted.

We provide adjustable supporting plates for the square rock bars in the form of spacing strips 18 at each-end of which are placed plates 19, having square tongues turned out therefrom as at 20, leaving square holes 21 to be set over the rock bars 14. The tongues will press against the rock bars and provide a friction grip thereon, enabling us to locate the supporting elements at any desired posithe plates 19 serve as lateral aligning means which keep the paper webs in proper lateral alignment, while the placing of the devices in adjusted position on the rock bars, brings the webs'to proper position for the desired manifolding to be done. Thus, wide webs and narrow webs can be employed on the machine, and the several Webs can be set in any desired relation laterally of each other, and once they are so set, will remain in the same lateral alignment.

The rollers 23 are made heavy enough to provide the proper gravity action, and have pintle ends 24 which lie in'the slots 22, so that the rollers can readily revolve and travel in the slots.

At one end of each rock bar we provide, preferably, a separate plate, for the purpose of cooperating with the latching device. Such a plate is illustrated at 25, said plates having fiat portions 26 over which the tongues 17 will slide, when the rock bars are in a position to permit the rollers to ride upon the slanting plates 12; When the rock bars are moved so as to elevate the end plates 19, thus lifting the rollers clear away from the slanting plates, the parts 28 of the plates 25 will contact with the tongues 17 on the latching bar, thus'forming a stop to define the upper position of the said end plates and gravity rollers, as shown in Figure 7. When however, the rock bars are moved so as to depress the end plates 19 until the rollers 'tongues 17 will overlie the parts 28 of the plates 25 and prevent the rocking up of the gravity rollers. This is shown in Figure 6.

In Figure 6 we show the rock bars in a position such that the rollers will roll upon the slanting plates. In Figure 7 we have shown the same structure in which the rock bars are moved to position to lift the grav ity rollers clearly out of the way. The latter position is used when threading paper operation. The latch bar serves to lock the rock bars in normal position.

i with no paper whatever in it, for the supply It will be noted that there are no screws,

springs, special lifting devices, or other mechanism which can get out of order inthe mechanism described.

We have shown a paper supply in the form of a roll 30, upon which a series of webs of paper A are wound, or in the form of a box of paper as at 31, in which the printed forms are folded flatwise. Also (although not illustrated) we can have separate rolls, one for each web ofpaper. The mounting of the paper forms no part that is essential to. our invention, and has not been illustrated particularly.

In operation, beginning with the machine of paper, the latch plate is moved to release position and the rollersare raised by hand, rocking upward each tensioning device, as shown in Figure 7 The paper is then brought up, the webs separated, and then one web is passed up in front of each slanting plate, and behind and over the top of the gravity roller, lying at that time above the upper edge of the plate. All webs are then brought forward to the platen, and arranged with theholes therein over the pins or hooks on the plate 6.

The rock bars are preferably dropped down over each web as it is threaded through to permit the rollers to come .down over the paper and roll down to the bottom of the slots in the'supporting mechanism, and the latching mechanism is set to lock down the rock bars afterthreading all forms and the operation is complete.

After the paper is written on, if there is a clamping knife, it is raised and a form length of the paper drawn forward. During this action the gravity rollers will lift when the paper is pulled, rising to a point near the top of the slanting plates. This relieves the strain, on the paper imparted by the rollers acting against the plates, dueto cutting down the amount of reverse bend in the paper, but it still holds a portion of the paper against the slanting plates.

The operator sets the holes at the front of a new set of forms over the aligning pins, and lets go of the paper,'whereupon the rollers will ride back by gravity along the slanting plates, and at the same time pull back on the webs of paper, taking up all slack and lining up the webs against the pins. The clamp bar, if any, is then lowered and the paper torn ofl against it, leaving an unwritten form over the platen, as at the start.

The rollers, since theymaintain some engagement with the paper against the plates, will not pull paper up from the supply, which mayhang loose,'but will apply the pull only Carry a pair of spaced cross plates 41, both of which are slotted as indicated at 42, to

paper that is extending toward clear the pins. The structure may be m'ount-- ed in the frame 11, as shown, and the paper strips after passing the roller 23 nearest the platen of the machine, are drawn between the two cross plates. A pair (preferably) of aligning pins 43, are arranged to pass through the alignin holes in the paper. The ins are set in a bar 44, which is free to rock. he bar has an operating arm 45 which is held by a spring 46, up against a stop 47. The result of this structure is that when the paper is pulled forward, the pins will give way, but when a new set of holes comes above the pins, they will spring up again. Once up,

structure in an autographic register having I a frame 50, in which are the paper rolls 51. The tear-off bar 52 lies over the aligning pins 53, in this instance shown as hooks.

The gravity roll structures generally marked 54, are arranged across the frame of the machine, and operate as already described to align the paper over the platen 55. I

There will be other mechanism apparent to the mechanic skilled in the art in question whereby the several functions of our device can beaccomplished by the use of equivalent parts, and we do not wish, because of having described several specific forms of mechanism, to be excluded from including within the scope of our claims, such equivalent mechanisms parts.

Having thus described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a manifolding machine, a tensioning device for pulling back upon webs of paper that are engaged by aligning devices, comprising supports over which the paper is drawn, said supports extending at a slant from the horizontal, and means riding upon said supports around which the paper is drawn and adapted to ride down upon said supports to effect the pulling back action, and to ride up on the supports when the paper is being drawn into position.

2. In a manifolding machine, a tensioning device for pulling back upon webs of paper that are engaged by alignin devices, comprising supports over WlliCl the paper is. drawn, said supports extending at a slant from the horizontahand means riding upon said supports around which the paper is drawn and adapted to ride down upon said from the horizontal, and means riding upon said supports around which the paper 'is drawn and adapted to ride down upon said supports to effect the pulling back action, and to ride up on the supports when the paper is being drawn into position, said means formed rollers, having slotted mounting members, which said members are movably secured to the machine.

4. In a manifolding machine, a tensioning device for pulling back upon webs of paper that are engaged by aligning devices, comprising supports over which the paper is drawn, said supports extending at a slant from the horizontal, and means riding upon said supports around which the paper is drawn and adapted to ride down upon said supports to eii'ect the pulling back action, and to ride up on the supports when the paper 1s being drawn into position, said means formed as rollers, having slotted mounting members, which said members are movably secured to the machine, and means for latching said mounting members in place, so that the rollers ride upon said supports.

5. In a 'manifolding machine, the combination with means for engaging apertures in multiple webs of paper, of means located bet-ween the supply of aper and said aperture engaging means or applying tension to said paper, said means having lateral members thereon to engage the paper and bring it into lateral alignment with the machine.

6. In a manifolding machine, the combina-.

tion with means for engaging apertures in multiple webs of paper, of means located between the supply of paper and said aperture engaging means for applying tension to said paper, said means having lateral members thereon to engage the paper and bring it into lateral alignment with the machine, and said tension applying means being adjustable laterally of the machine, whereby the location of said lateral engaging means is controlled.

7. In a manifolding machine, means for applying tension to a paper web comprising a slanting plate over which a web of paper is drawn, and a gravity roller around which the paper passes, and mounted so as to move upwardly along and in line with the slanting plate, when pulled by the paper, and downwardly by gravity, so as to wardly by gravity, so as to pull back on the paper, when same is held at the advancing end, the mounting of the gravity roller com-- prising a pair of spaced slotted elements, and a rocking member supporting the same, whereby said rocking member may be shifted to elevate the gravity roller away from the slanting plate.

9. In a manifolding machine, means for applying tension to a paper Web comprising aslanting plate over which a web of paper is drawn, and a gravity roller around which the paperpasses, and mounted so as to move upwardly along and in line with the slanting.

plate, when pulled by the paper, and downwardly by gravity, so as to pull back on the paper, when same is held at the advancing end, the mounting of the gravity roller comprising a pair of spaced slotted elements, and a rocking member supporting the same, whereby said rocking member may be shifted to'elevate the gravity roller away from the slanting plate, said spaced plates adjustable across the rocking member, for the purpose described.

10. In a manifolding machine, means for applying tension to a paper web comprising a slanting plate over which a web of paper is drawn, and a gravity roller around which the paper passes, and mounted so as to move u wardly alon and in line with the slanting p ate, when pu led by the paper, and downwardly by gravity, so as to pull back on the paper, when same is held at the advancing end, the mounting of the gravity roller comprising a pair of slotted elements, and means for mounting the same, with relation to which said slotted elements are adjustable transverse of the machine.

11. In a manifolding machine, means for applying tension to a paper web comprising a slanting plate over which a .web of paper is drawn, and a gravity roller around which the paper passes, and mounted so as to move upwardly along and in line with the slant- .ing plate, when pulled by the paper, and

downwardly by gravity, so as to pull back on the paper, when same is held at the advancing end, the mounting means for the gravity roller comprising a rock bar, a pair of spaced plates mounted thereon, so as to slide but not to revolve, slots in the spaced plates in which the rollers arefree to move and rotate, and means for latching said rock bar 1n position with the rollers substantially agamst the slanting plate, said slots so arranged that when in this position the rollers will follow the plates.

12. In a manifolding machine, means for applying tension to a pa er web comprising Y a slanting plateover which a web of paper is drawn, and a gravity roller around which the paper passes, and mounted so as to move upwardly along and in line with the slanting plate, when pulled by the paper, and downwardly by gravity, so as to pull back on the paper, when same is held at the advancing end, the mounting means for the gravity roller comprising a rock bar, a pair of spaced plates mounted thereon, so as to a slide but not to revolve, slots in the spaced plates in which the rollers are free to move and rotate, and means for latchin said rock bar in position with the rollers su stantially against the slanting late, said slots so arranged that when in t is position the rollers will follow the plates, said latching means comprising a slide bar having a tongue to engage the rock bar, and said rock bar having an ear to engage said tongue when the rock bar is shifted to elevate the roller away from latching position.

'13. In a manifolding machine, the combination with means for supporting a supply of paper webs, of means for guiding the sev- V eral webs to a laten comprising a series of rollers over w ich the webs are separately drawn, said rollers having frames in which they are mounted, said frames being of various widths vto suit the individual webs'of paper of different widths, whereby the paper 40 era webs to a H 1s guided laterally by the frames.

14.. In a manifoldlng machine, the combination with means for supporting a supply of aper webs, of means for guiding the sevlaten, comprising a series of rollers over w ich the webs are separately drawn, said rollers having frames in which they are mounted, said frames being of the width to suit the web of paper used,

. whereby the aper is guided laterally by the frames, ars on which said frames are mounted, and means for moving the frames transversely of the machine on said bars to locate the webs in the position desired.

JOHN Q. SHERMAN. vALBERT W. METZ NER. 

